Which English Clubs Have Won European Trophies?

It’s been a strong season for English clubs in Europe, with all nine Premier League representatives across the three UEFA competitions making it to the last 16.

In the Champions League, English sides accounted for almost half of the knockout participants: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham progressed automatically, with Newcastle winning a play-off.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa reached the Europa League last 16 automatically, while Nottingham Forest advanced via the play-offs – as did Crystal Palace to the equivalent stage of the Conference League.

So, will we see an English name on a major European trophy this year? And if it’s a new name, who will they join?

Which English Clubs Have Won European Trophies?

A total of 13 English clubs have won at least one major European trophy, including eight of the nine in European this term – Palace being the sole exception.

We’re defining major as any of the following UEFA competitions: the Champions League (previously European Cup), the Europa League (previously UEFA Cup), the Conference League and the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup – plus the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which began in the same year as the European Cup, 1955.

Here is the full list of English winners of major European trophies (asterisked clubs have won the European Cup / Champions League):

Liverpool are England’s most successful club in continental competition, having won the Champions League / European Cup six times – at least twice as many as any other English side – and the UEFA Cup three times.

The Reds are followed by Chelsea, whose haul of seven major European trophies comprises two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues / UEFA Cups, two Cup Winners’ Cups and the Conference League. The Blues were the first side to win all three current big UEFA club tournaments.

Manchester United rank second among English clubs for Champions League / European Cup successes with three – having become England’s first European Cup winners in 1968. They’ve also triumphed in the Cup Winners’ Cup and Europa League.

Tottenham are the only other English side with more than two major European honours to their name: Spurs have collected three Europa Leagues / UEFA Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup.

Five clubs are level on two apiece. Nottingham Forest stand out here, having claimed back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980 – making them the only side to have been crowned champions of Europe more times than of their own country.

Manchester City triumphed in the 2022/23 Champions League, 53 years after tasting Cup Winners’ Cup glory.

West Ham won the 1964/65 Cup Winners’ Cup then had to wait 58 years to taste European success once more in the form of the Conference League.

Arsenal have been victorious in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup, with Leeds winning the former on two occasions.

And then there are four English clubs who each have one major European trophy to their name – a different trophy in each case.

Aston Villa were crowned champions of Europe in 1982; Ipswich Town won the 1980/81 UEFA Cup; Everton lifted the 1984/85 Cup Winners’ Cup; and Newcastle lifted the 1968/69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Who Were the First English Club to Win a European Trophy?

Spurs were the first English club to win a major European trophy, getting their hands on the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963.

The North London side thrashed holders Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the final in Rotterdam.

Which Other English Clubs Have Played in European Finals?

On top of the 13 English winners of major European trophies, four English clubs have played in a major European final and lost.

Birmingham City were the first English side to appear in a major European final, doing so in the 1958/60 and 1960/61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup but losing on aggregate to Barcelona then Roma.

Wolves, Middlesbrough and Fulham have all suffered defeat in the Europa League / UEFA Cup final – in 1972, 2006 and 2010 respectively.

Additionally, the short-lived London XI – representing 11 London clubs – reached the final of the inaugural 1955-58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, losing 8-2 to Barcelona across two legs.